Check out this video that was slipped to me the other day. It's of a very loyal former Tomb Raider operator doing commentary to the old Tomb Raider music from the ride. Watch it until the end, it's pretty darn funny.

This guy stole my F5 logo, what a loser!

Man, that made me feel like I was on the ride. He did forget the part where I got stuck almost inverted for 10 minutes though.

Just found this little nugget. Tomb Raiders pre-show (the actual pre show ends at 2:40 then the song plays for the other 8 or so minutes.

Now here's the ride sequence just to bring back some memories.

Surprisingly, I had never seen a video of the ride prior to the switch to The Crypt. I wish I had a chance to experience that. Unfortunately, once I started attending Kings Island it had already been changed.

I have a confession to make. I lose focus on what I'm doing from time to time daydreaming about this great ride.

Just close your eyes during the video and... wow, man. You said it all.

I have a confession to make. I lose focus on what I'm doing from time to time daydreaming about this great ride.

Just close your eyes during the video and... wow, man. You said it all.

Join the club. We have jackets.

I have a confession to make. I lose focus on what I'm doing from time to time daydreaming about this great ride.

Just close your eyes during the video and... wow, man. You said it all.

Join the club. We have jackets.

^ I laughed out loud. That was a good one.

For real, though--I even miss the 2011 Crypt these days. The Inception score tracks that they used were a really great choices, in my opinion. At first it seemed a little random, but now I can't not associate those three tracks with the ride. Of course, Tomb Raider was better, but I'd take The Crypt from 2011 back in a heartbeat if it were offered, ride cycle excluded.

I still daydream about TR:TR pretty frequently, though. Most themed rides I daydream up tend to have some resemblance to it, too, at least in terms of how the guest experience progresses. (Before any smartypants says it: no, the rides I daydream up do NOT include extensive downtime, thank you very much. )

I doubt we will ever see anything of that caliber again at KI.

I don't.

Kings Island has incredible potential.

For the first time in decades, the future looks very bright.

Immersive themeing? Maybe. I wouldn't have given them credit in that category until I saw how they did Banshee. Granted, it's no Disney but I think this administration sees the value in a theme to enhance the ride experience.

The Inception music fit the ride perfectly, albeit cruddy ride cycle, but it was decent. However the score blasting away on those speakers, absolutely awesome.

I do miss that ride

KI needs a real dark ride like something bad.

See also Cedar Point. But more so.

That brought back some great memories. Made some great friends that year.

That video makes me think of this...